The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD) with early intervention programs and offices on Mackworth Island (located outside of Portland ME) is charged with the provision of statewide services to individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing from birth through age twenty-two.
We are seeking an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher with a can-do attitude. This position interacts with many in our organization so the willingness to be part of a collaborative team is essential. This position involves instructional services, interventions, and consultations in the instruction of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students with additional disabilities. The Special Education Teacher works as a member of the student’s educational team to design and implement academic, behavioral, and functional programs in accordance with the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) and behavior plans.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provides ongoing educational consultation and technical assistance to professionals working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing with additional special needs.
- Designs, develops, and implements specially designed instruction and consultation as determined through the IEP process.
- Provides recommendations for instructional program adjustments upon request.
- Provides in-service training to other professionals.
- Serves students in pre-K and public school settings using all communication modalities.
- Monitors communication and language development through a variety of strategies and assessments.
- Provides evaluations upon referral.
- Participates in the IEP process, writes present levels of performance and goals, following the Maine Early Learning Development and Common Core Standards for students.
- Collects and documents data related to IEP goals and consultation.
- Identifies and shares resources with educational teams and families to support students' access and learning needs.
- Monitors developmental, academic, communication, and language skill development through a variety of strategies and assessments.
- Completes peer awareness activities in students' classrooms.
- Facilitates writing of behavior plans.
- Works collaboratively with parents and a wide variety of professionals from Maine schools and agencies to develop positive and successful educational programs for students.
- Enters child specific service information into databases.
- Collaborates as a team member with professionals from school districts in assigned regions.
- Abides by all the policies and procedures of MECDHH/GBSD and Federal/State regulations.
- Any other duties as assigned.
Minimum Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree (Master’s preferred)
- State of Maine Certification - 282 (Special Education), 292 (Deaf Education), or willingness to obtain
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in Special and/or Deaf education
- Knowledge of the IEP process
- Knowledge of all communication opportunities or willingness to learn
- High level of professionalism, strong organizational, communication, and written skills
- Ability to deal effectively with a wide range of people in a helpful, positive, and constructive way
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, establish priorities, and work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community
- Skilled in the areas of organization, facilitation, and program management
- Ability to engage in dialogue on complex, difficult, or emotional issues
- Willingness to learn American Sign Language required
- Willingness to learn about and potentially become certified in Deaf education.
- Current CHRC (fingerprinting) certification required
Work Environment
This job operates in a school environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The person in this role works extensively with students.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Benefits
A competitive salary and benefits package, including medical/dental/vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, Maine Public Employees Retirement System, paid sick/personal/vacation time, and federal public loan forgiveness program, is offered.
If interested in applying for this position please click the APPLY link next to the Special Education Teacher - Early Childhood listing on our Career Opportunities website page. A complete job description is linked to the application. https://www.mecdhh.org/professionals/career-opportunities
PLEASE NOTE: Employment CANNOT be finalized until the applicant has completed requirements for complete background checks and fingerprinting as required by Maine state statute.
We strongly encourage individuals who are DHH, women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply to all of our job openings.